FARMINGTON — This week, the Board of Selectmen is seeking to revise their budget proposal, after announcing last week they felt they were in a fiscal crisis.

Chairman Charlie King says he believes residents will still see an increase in their tax rate next year — an approximate 90 cent hike if the town does not buy against the rate — though final decisions have yet to be made as the board continues to make cuts. The budget stands at approximately 1.4 percent higher than it was last year.

Following a meeting with the Budget Committee last Saturday morning, selectmen said they took some recommendations under advisement. At their meeting Wednesday night, the board made several decisions, including 10 percent cuts across the board for civic programs. The town welfare program was also reduced, to $39,000, because King said in years past the town had overbudgeted for the program at about $50,000.

The town also contributes to the COAST bus service, and although an increase was requested by the private organization, the selectmen said they couldn’t justify spending more. They are “level funding” their contribution to the program, to be the same amount as last year.

Some selectmen said they were uneasy with the decision, with some residents possibly losing a job because the bus doesn’t serve their area of town. Selectman Paula Proulx said COAST was seeking to expand their routes with the increased budget line.

“This directly affects a lot of people who would go to jobs and what have you. We just cut our welfare budget and … we absolutely need for people to go through to get to their jobs,” she said. “You’ve got to pick your battles and win your wars and I don’t particularly want to lose this one.”

King also confirmed personnel cuts are not being considered in this proposed budget cycle any longer, as was suggested last week.

“We felt that (we can propose a budget) low as we can without staffing reductions,” he said.

At a meeting held Wednesday, Jan. 30, several staff members of the Goodwin Library protested the town’s smaller contribution to their operations, too, stating they may have to cut staff and limit hours. Selectmen said Wednesday night perhaps they could meet with the library association in the future to discuss how they manage their funds and discuss the future.

At the end of the meeting, close to three hours long, Town Administrator Keith Trefethen estimated the budget, with reductions proposed throughout the night, stood at around $6.1 million to $6.2 million.

Additionally, selectmen went through the proposed Town Meeting warrant articles and made some small changes that will be finalized in the coming weeks.

The board plans to next meet to discuss the budget further next Monday, Feb. 11, though that may change due to pending weather. Town elections are scheduled for March 12 this year and Town Meeting will be held on March 13.